I open the side door and drop to my knees in reverence. God it’s beautiful! A wriggling and wiggling mass of bodies: worms slip sliding and intertwining, an extended family of earwigs playing rough and tumble in an eggshell, slugs high fiving tentacles in an orgasm of delight; and who’s this? Mr Cockroach, you lucky duck, you’re in heaven aren’t you? My kitchen (your previous hangout) can’t compare to this smorgasbord of delicacies.

“Eewww!” The manicured adults say, catching a look.

Oh but this is not ugly, I explain passionately! Take off your blinkers and look, really look. This is no object for your disgust! Oh why can’t you see? This is a place of sacred life; this is a place of the highest and most honourable beauty, captured, captivating and generous. The bugs and their brothers and sisters work night and day for you, for your daily bread and they do it for free! Can you believe it? They do it for free!

I harvest a little, digging out some rich dark matter and plant a seed. Then I wait.

Wake up!

Penny Jones

Sydney

Penny is a outdoor enthusiast with the main life aims of world peace and a pollution-free environment. Big dreams, you might say, but as an uncrushable optimist she believes in aiming high. She contributes to this vision in small powerful ways such as smiling, composting, growing veggies and above all by being kind to every plant, animal and human being who crosses her path.
Her current motto: those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those already doing it.